[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c9.3784 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3784 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.3784 - **Language:** English ### [c9.3784](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3784) It is said that Vālmīki was the tenth son of Varuṇa. But in his younger age he fell into the hands of wicked people and became a wicked man, like his friends. Then his name was not Vālmīki. Being a father, he had to support his family. For this purpose he used to plunder travellers. Once he happened to catch the Saptarṣis (the seven hermits) who passed by that way. The hermits asked him whether his wife and children would share the sins he had incurred by plundering. The plunderer could not answer that unexpected question. He ran home and asked his wife and children if they would share the sins incurred by him. They were not prepared to do so. In a moment his life underwent a thorough change. He ran to the Saptarṣis and knelt before them. They imparted to the forester, knowledge of the Vedas. The forester sat under a tree and began to sing ‘Rāma Rāma’. Days and months and years passed, unknown to him. He did not know that white ants had built a shelter above him. After several years the Saptarṣis returned by that way. They broke the ant-hill and took the hermit out. Because he came out of Vālmīka or white-ant-hill he came to be known as Vālmīki. He built his hermitage on the bank of the river Tamasā and lived there with his disciples. It was at this place that he composed the famous poem Rāmāyaṇa. (For further details see under Rāmāyaṇa). - [Previous: c9.3783](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3783) - [Next: c9.3785](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3785) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3784](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3784) · Pramāṇa